A patient with Bell's palsy says to the nurse, "It doesn't hurt anymore to touch my face. How am I going to get muscle tone back so I don't look like this anymore?" What interventions can the nurse suggest to the patient?
a) Suggest applying cool compresses on the face several times a day to tighten the muscles.
b) Inform the patient that the muscle function will return as soon as the virus dissipates.
c) Tell the patient to smile every 4 hours.
d) Suggest massaging the face several times daily, using a gentle upward motion, to maintain muscle tone.
Answer: Suggest massaging the face several times daily, using a gentle upward motion, to maintain muscle tone.